And, at the same time, he says he's very hopeful he can return next week against Northwestern.

"I'm very optimistic," Hoke said. "I'm still optimistic."

Hoke maintained all week long that he thought Robinson's right elbow would be strong enough to play Saturday against the Golden Gophers.

He even went as far as saying he expected him to start Thursday morning -- but in the end, the nerve injury he re-aggravated against Nebraska proved too much to overcome.

"It hadn't changed, but I'm an optimistic person," Hoke said of Robinson's healing process. "I thought it'd be a little better. It's better than it was, a lot better than it was.

"It's just a matter of healing all the way through."

Hoke opted to dress Robinson for the game Saturday anyway, and quarterback Devin Gardner said he was told he'd be getting the start "right before the game."

Robinson dressed in full gear, and was on the field for warmups -- though it was Gardner taking the bullk of the snaps. Robinson also walked to midfield with fellow co-captain Jordan Kovacs for the coin toss, before spending the rest of the game on the sideline.

"He can help our football team on the sideline," Hoke said when asked why he dressed Robinson. "He can coach, he can watch, he can help."

In other injury news, Hoke confirmed that backup quarterback Russell Bellomy was inactive Saturday due to an injury -- he would not specify anything further. Meanwhile, Michigan wide receiver Jeremy Gallon was wearing a protective boot on his right foot after the game.

As for the starting quarterback job, Gardner turned in a near picture-perfect performance during the first start of his career. But is there a quarterback controversy brewing in Ann Arbor?

"No," Hoke said.

If Robinson's healthy next week, he'll likely get the start against Northwestern.